9-Day Active Tanzania Biking, Canoeing & Walking Safari

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Overview

Enjoy a classic northern Tanzania itinerary with a difference: this 9-day tour combines game drives with walking, biking and canoeing in Tanzania's best game-viewing destinations to deliver a comprehensive safari experience. Game drives are one of the best ways to see big game – and with Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti all lined up you will certainly see plenty of animals on your vacation. Yet leaving the 4×4 at camp and exploring by bike, on foot and by canoe allows you to discover the small and fascinating details of the savannah, with your expert guide pointing out birds, insects, reptiles and medicinal plants. It is the best of both worlds: in the vehicle you can of further but miss much of the detail; on your own steam you do not go quite as far but the reward is getting to know Africa from the ground up.

Accommodation after your opening two nights at a lodge in Arusha is in very comfortable tented camps. Your tent at every stop is large enough to stand up in and has a double bed with crisp cotton linen and a large en suite bathroom with a hot-water shower. These camps have been chosen for their low environmental impact but high reward: they are set in game-rich areas and allow easy access to some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa such as the Big 5 of the Ngorongoro Crater, the seasonal Serengeti Wildebeest Migration and the famous tree-climbing lions and huge flocks of flamingos of Lake Manyara.

This is an overland tour, driving between destinations with your driver-guide and allowing you time to sit back and watch the glorious African Rift Valley scenery unfold. There is an opportunity to interact with local Tanzanian cultures – you could take a bike trip to a local village at Ngorongoro – and the itinerary and activities will appeal to amateur wildlife photographers and adventurous safari travellers.

Highlights & Activities

What's on offer whilst on this itinerary?
  • Unique mix of safari adventures across Arusha, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti
  • Big 5 Ngorongoro Crater safari to see elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo and leopard
  • Seasonal Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti from about October to June
  • Village tour and cultural encounters in Tanzania
  • Fascination treetop canopy tour at Lake Manyara
  • Authentic tented camp accommodation with suite bathrooms throughout
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Summary

Tour Duration: 9 days
Start: Arusha, Tanzania
End: Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Destinations visited

arusha1
Arusha
lake-manyara1
Lake Manyara
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Ngorongoro Crater
Witnessing the Great Migration from an aerial perspective | Go2Africa
Serengeti
A mega herd of wildebeest graze and travel during the annual Great Migration | Go2Africa
Tanzania

Accommodations visited

rivertrees-country-inn-banner-the-river-deck

Arusha, Tanzania

Rivertrees Country Inn
2 Nights
banner-wayo-manyara-green-camp-tanzania-lake-manyara-beach-main-area

Lake Manyara, Tanzania

Wayo Manyara Green Camp
2 Nights
ngorongoro-crater-camp

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Ngorongoro Crater Camp, an A&K Sanctuary 
1 Nights

Itinerary

Day to day
  • RivertreesCountryInn-Entrance-MainEntrance
  • The swimming pool at Rivertrees.
  • Rivertrees Country Inn - The Farmhouse.
  • Rivertrees Country Inn's lush green grounds.
  • The perfect place to relax | Rivertrees Country Inn
  • Spot the local wildlife in the trees around the estate.
  • The River House interior.
  • Down-to-earth comfort that invokes a warm sense of feeling at home.
  • Dine indoors or alfresco at Rivertrees.
  • The River House living room.
  • Ready for an evening bonfire.
  • Enjoy the freshest coffee from Arusha's coffee plantations.
JM
Jan Mack
traveler

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Itinerary information

This tour begins with your arrival at Arusha’s Kilimanjaro International Airport when you are met by a tour representative and driven to Rivertrees Country Inn. Lying an hour out of town on the foothills of Mount Meru and with distant views of Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa, Rivertrees is the ideal place to rest and relax after your journey. There is a swimming pool and sun deck as well as complimentary Wi-Fi to catch up with news from home. The lodge has several interesting trails along the banks of the Usa River if you would like to stretch your legs and look for local wildlife like birds and perhaps a monkey or two.

Rivertrees Country Inn information

  • Well-appointed and spacious rooms

  • Nestled in a tranquil forest setting in the foothills of Mount Meru

  • Superb views of Kilimanjaro, the world's tallest free-standing mountain

  • Conveniently located near Arusha and Kilimanjaro Airports

  • Situated alongside Arusha National Park

  • Phenomenal birdlife around the estate

Bed & Breakfast

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  • Rivertree Country Inn interior.
  • Kayaking with Rivertrees in Arusha National Park.
Itinerary information

An early morning start gets you to nearby Arusha National Park for a day of adventure. It is one of Tanzania’s smallest conservation areas but surprisingly diverse: Arusha’s wetlands are home to hippo, its forests hide monkeys and gaudy birds while its grasslands are grazed by elephant, buffalo and antelope and patrolled by leopards and spotted hyenas. You mix your game drives with walking and canoe trips to gain an exclusive insight into the Arusha environment. After a day of discovery, you head back to Rivertrees Country Inn for a well-deserved dinner and another restful night between crisp cotton bedsheets.

  • Wayo_Manyara_Green_Cam_CampFire
  • Wayo_Manyara_Green_Camp_Tent
  • Wayo Manyara Green Camp main camp area.
  • Dining under the stars.
  • Incredible elephant encounters.
  • Local designer crafts-people create beautiful pieces for the camp.
  • Views from the tents are enhanced by a mesh ceiling and sides with a retractable weatherproof roof.
  • Drinks with you feet in the water, a special safari 'green season' experience.
  • Locally-sourced and reclaimed materials have been used to build these beautiful guest tents.
  • Though this is a bush camp, the en-suite bathrooms have flush toilets and hot showers.
  • The dry river bed makes for the best spot for an evening around a campfire.
  • Enjoy a guided walk to the seasonal Endabash Waterfall.
MS
Maureen Stover
employee

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Itinerary information

After breakfast at Rivertrees you drive to Lake Manyara, one of the Rift Valley’s most famous lakes and home to impressive concentrations of birds and large mammals. There is time for an afternoon drive in Lake Manyara National Park before checking in at Manyara Green Camp, a charismatic tented camp set up in the south of the park at the base of a waterfall. Your tented suite is large enough to hold a double bed and luggage racks, and each has its own private bathroom attached. The next day is spent in the national park, beginning with a morning walk along the lakeshore to be followed by a game drive which turns into a spot-lit night drive, your chance to see Africa’s nocturnal creatures on the prowl. You return to candlelight and a delicious dinner at Manyara Green Camp.

Wayo Manyara Green Camp information

  • Primarily a walking safari camp

  • Canoe safaris on Lake Manyara

  • Marang Forest walks and hikes up the Rift Valley escarpment

  • Guided shore walks, tracking the events of the previous night

  • Night game drives to spot nocturnal wildlife

  • Beautiful tents with retractable roofs for stargazing

Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

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  • NgorongoroCraterCamp-Activity
  • NgorongoroCraterCamp-UpperLevelBedroom-Deck/Patio
  • NgorongoroCraterCamp-Interior-Lounge
  • NgorongoroCraterCamp-UpperLevelBedroom
  • Authentic African safari.
  • Spacious safari tents.
  • The crater offers some of the best game viewing in Africa.
  • Dine under the stars.
  • Dine under the acacia trees.
  • Get close to members of the Big5.
  • The crater offers some of the best game viewing in Africa.
  • Wildlife viewing.
  • Wake up to the Wonders of the Ngorongoro | Ngorongoro Crater Camp
  • The Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
  • Enjoy a afternoon tipple in the lounge.
"exceeded expectations"
JC
Judith Cohen
traveler

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Itinerary information

The day begins with a morning game drive out of the park plus a treetop canopy walk, your opportunity to look for seldom-seen wildlife in the tops of forest trees, especially monkeys, tree squirrels and birds. You then arrive at Mto wa Mbu traditional village for a walking or biking tour before checking in at Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp, your accommodation for the night. Set close to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, this chic tented camp is the perfect place to base yourself for a Ngorongoro safari: it lies close to the road down into the Crater which puts you among the first vehicles onto the Crater floor the next day.

Ngorongoro Crater Camp, an A&K Sanctuary  information

  • Set in the rim valley of Ngorongoro Crater

  • Excellent game viewing with professional guides

  • Spacious tents with en suite bathrooms

  • A unique and scenic natural environment

  • Cultural encounters in a traditional village

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"exceeded expectations"
JC
Judith Cohen

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  • Wayo_Banagi_Green_Camp_Elephant
  • Wayo_Banagi_Green_Camp_Tent
Itinerary information

An early start gets you into the Ngorongoro Crater before everyone else and you can begin your morning game viewing. The Crater is home to Africa’s Big 5 – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – and it is not unusual to see most, if not all of them, in the course of a single drive. After a picnic lunch you begin the journey to the central Serengeti and Banagi Green Camp, your home for the next three nights. A stunning location near the Grumeti River assures gold-standard game viewing throughout the year. The region is at its most dramatic during the mid-year months when the Wildebeest Migration thunders in. You have two days of morning and afternoon drives to look forward to, returning each evening to a comfortable tented suite with solar-powered lighting and 3-course dinners served under the stars.

Itinerary information

After breakfast at Banagi Green Camp you are transferred to local Seronera Airstrip for the 2-hour flight to Arusha Airport for your onward travel arrangements and the end of this tour.

Expert Opinion

We know because we go
Maureen Omukhango

Maureen Omukhango

Client Experience Expert

Perfect for adventure-seekers, this active safari gets you out of the vehicle and into the wild. Led by expert guides, you'll experience a unique safari in breathtaking surroundings.

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What’s Included?

  • 8 nights accommodation
  • Meals:
  • Rivertrees Country Inn : Bed & Breakfast
  • Wayo Manyara Green Camp : Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • Ngorongoro Crater Camp, an A&K Sanctuary  : Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • All necessary permits, conservancy and park fees
  • All activities specified, including morning and evening game drives each full day on safari
  • Early morning descent into the crater for game drive
  • Flight from Seronera to JRO
  • Game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
  • Game drive into into Banagi Green Camp
  • Transfer from Arusha to Rivertrees Country Inn
  • Transfer to Central Serengeti
  • Transfer to Lake Manyara
  • Transfer to Mto wa Mbu for village walk or biking
  • Transfer to Serengeti
  • Transfer to Seronera Airstrip
  • Transfers to rim of the Ngorongoro Crater
  • All transfers during your itinerary
  • 24/7 assistance and support during your trip
  • Complete financial protection with our Money-Back Guarantee

What’s Excluded?

  • Your international flights to and from Africa + any related taxes
  • Any travel visas you require (though we help you with this)
  • Tips
  • Personal items (eg. travel insurance, souvenirs)
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